Bobcats Still Are Abundant

The weekend/outdoors - NATURE'S TRAILS

April 23, 1993|By Don Wilson of The Sentinel Staff

The Florida panther might be endangered, but its cousin, the bobcat, is doing just fine. These short-tailed felines still have plenty of habitat and food, and their numbers are not declining, according to Florida wildlife biologists. Distinguished by its docked tail and tufted ears, the spotted cat can weigh as much as 35 pounds, though 25 pounds is a more likely size. The cat likes to use a hollow tree as its den and feeds largely on rabbits and small rodents. You'll seldom encounter one during the day because these cats feed primarily at night.